One of the nation's most consistent winningest programs over the last decade-plus, the Valparaiso volleyball team has been selected to win the Horizon League in 2013 in polling of the league's head coaches.

Each of the coaches ranked the teams one through seven, omitting their own squad from the voting. Teams received seven points for a first-place vote down to one point for an seventh-place vote.

The Crusaders received four of the eight available first-place votes and totaled 44 points, out-pacing Cleveland State, which received two first-place votes, by two points. Milwaukee came in third position in the polling with 41 points and picked up the other two available first-place nods. Oakland, UIC, Green Bay, Youngstown State and Wright State rounded out the preseason poll in order.

Valparaiso is one of just 11 programs nationwide to have won at least 20 matches in each of the previous 11 seasons. Last season's Crusader squad won 21 matches and finished in a tie for second in the Horizon League standings. Valpo returns nine letterwinners from that team, including six starters, and brings in eight newcomers to round out the 17-player roster. The season opens for Valpo on Friday, August 30 with a pair of matches at the UCF Invitational.